Dear People & Friends of St. Clements,
This week’s Weekly Message contains:
An important message from our Treasurer
Exact details of what we are collecting to provide practical help to the homeless
The programme for this coming Sunday & the following week
Advance notice of an important Ecumenical Service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
An important message from our Treasurer regarding 2011 Stewardship Envelopes
Gordon writes: “I have the details of those of you who donated in 2011 using envelope numbers:- 2, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 40, 43, 44, 50, 52, 54, and 60; and also those who put their name(s) or initials on other envelopes. However; if you donated in 2011 using unmarked envelope(s) other than these, even just once; please email me at truegordon1(at)volny(dot)cz and let me know the envelope number(s) you used, by the end of January 2012; after which I will have to transfer the amount of any unidentified envelope donations to the `general collection` in order to submit the required tax return for the Chaplaincy.
Also: if you require a `Tax letter` confirming the total amount you donated in 2011 by; envelope or/and bank transfer or/and PayPal; please email me at truegordon1(at)volny(dot)cz “
Exact details of what we are collecting to provide practical help to the homeless
As you will know from my first Weekly Message of this new year, we now have two big red wheelie bins in Church in which we have started collecting items that will be used to both clothe and feed the homeless in Prague. A number of people were caught out last Sunday, by bringing things that are NOT required. Please read the following two short paragraphs carefully!
For the Clothing Bin we need hats, gloves, scarves, socks, shoes/boots and underwear for both men & women. On the outside of the bin there is, in both pictures and words, a clear indication of the items required & not required.
For the Food Bin we need tinned goods. Basically, any food item in a tin but NOT sauces, pasta, or other dried goods in packets or plastic bottles. Again, in pictures & words on the outside of the bin, there is a clear indication of what is & isn’t required.
When full, these bins will be collected by the Armáda spásy / Salvation Army and the contents used to help in their work with the homeless in Prague. The bins will be out at the back of Church this Sunday & each Sunday following. Here is a very practical way that we can show some form of social concern for the most vulnerable members of the society in which we live.
The programme for this coming Sunday & the following week
Sunday 15th January – Second Sunday of Epiphany – 11.00 am Sung Eucharist
Our Bible readings on this coming Sunday speak of God’s call upon our lives to both follow and serve him. Our Old Testament reading is 1 Samuel 3. 1-10 which tells of the call of Samuel. Our Gospel reading is John 1. 43-51 which describes the call by Jesus to Philip and Nathanael to follow him & be his disciples. In between, we shall hear and respond to part of Psalm 139.
The service will also include the baptism of Daniel Eze Ajaefobi, the son of Joshua Ajaefobi & Renata Chottová. There will be parallel Children’s Ministry and the service will be followed by Coffee Hour in the hall on the third floor of Klimentská 18.
Tuesday 17th January, 6.30-8.00pm in the small meeting room on the first floor of Klimentská 18.
Alexandr Flek, the Chairman of the Czech publisher Biblion will speak about the production of Bible 21, a modern Czech translation of the Bible & about all the issues that surround translating the original Hebrew and Greek texts into another language. Saša (as he likes to be known), is a very fluent English-speaker and a most interesting character to listen to. As always, there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion & questions.
Advance notice of an important Ecumenical Service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Around the world, the period between 18th – 25th January is kept as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The main service in Prague to mark this important week will be on Monday 23rd January at 6.00pm in Kostel sv. Vojtěcha v Praze 6 – Dejvicích. The Church is part of the Catholic Theological Faculty and is located in a street called Kolejní. It is within walking distance of Dejvická Metro Station at the end of the Green Line. The nearest tram stop is Thákurova – Tram 20 or 26.
The service will be led by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Prague, Dominik Duka & the preacher will be Joel Ruml, Moderator of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren & also Chair of the Czech Ecumenical Council. Sybille & I are planning to go, along with Rev Dr Karen Moritz. It would be lovely to have some other St. Clement’s members to go with us. Please let me know if you are interested in attending so we can all arrange to meet either at the tram or metro stop & walk together to the Church.
Two other brief reminders, both of which were in last week’s ‘Weekly Message’.
If you still have any unsold St. Clement’s Christmas Cards, or the proceeds from ones that you’ve sold, please bring the cards &/or cash to Church and pass to Steve Entwistle ASAP!
Don’t forget your used postage stamps from the cards & parcels you received this Christmas. Also bring them to Church & place them in the collecting envelope on the noticeboard at the back of the building to help raise funds for the Intercontinental Church Society who have supported St. Clement’s both financially & prayerfully since 2000.
Hoping to see many of you on Sunday at 11.00 am.
Best wishes
Ricky
